A federal court in Atlanta has ruled that gender specific vulgarity can be construed to contribute to a hostile work environment even if not directed at a specific individual.    This means that the definition of “hostile work environment” is now broader and much more general.  Its decisions like these that although ethically correct, make it very difficult to know how to instruct your employees as to appropriate behavior.

Many nonprofits and social service organizations use independent contractors for certain elements of their operations.  Unfortunately the term “Independent Contractor” has different meanings to different people.  For example, the way they are treated for tax purposes is different than they way they are treated for Workers’ Comp. purposes. 

In a move that has that is sure to incur the ire of the insurance industry both the Senate and House are considering bills that would ban the use of credit scores for insurance purposes.

The earthquakes and the ensuing human tragedy in Haiti is on everyone’s mind.   Hopefully their towns, homes and culture will be re-built soon and be better and safer than before.  However, in the clean up process there will be environmental fallout that nobody as focused on yet.